Dr. John Tsourounakis was joined by CTV Morning Live’s Ainsley McPhail to discuss the industry leading safety protocols in effect at our 2025 Corydon Avenue clinic. Dr. Tsourounakis is a Periodontist with Southwest Specialty Group, a co-tenant with Cholakis Dental Group and Kids Dental.

Cholakis Dental Group has always upheld the highest standard when it comes to patient safety, including sanitization and sterilization, since our founding almost 40 years ago. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly been a gamechanger.

Since March 2020 it has been a team effort to identify, and put these new safety protocols in place. The CDG team was compelled to study what the industry was doing and to hire some of the very best consultants in the safety field. Our goal was always to be one of the safest clinics in Canada. This applies to Cholakis Dental, Kids Dental, SouthWest Specialty group, and also our sister clinics InStyle Dental at CF Polo Park and Allora Dental in Bridgwater Town Centre.

What do these safety protocols look like?

As soon as the patient enters the clinic, our friendly safety officer oversees hand sanitization at our disinfection kiosk, while ensuring universal mask wearing. Patient temperature is recorded with a touchless thermometer to screen for fever. Also, a pulse oximetry test is taken to detect hypoxia, which can be associated with acute COVID-19. Our safety officer wears a mask, face shield, gloves, and an isolation gown. This is very important, as they are the first staff members to screen our patients.

The patient is also provided with a sanitized iPad so they can fill out our COVID-19 screening questionnaire. The reception area has been modified to ensure social distancing with transparent 3D barriers and the air is filtered with Surgically Clean Air units that scrub for virus sized particles.

During any appointment, whether it be a simple cleaning, or more involved treatment, you’ll find our clinical staff equipped with a P100 respirator, covered by an additional face mask and eye protection, or an additional face shield. Operatory staff also wear sterile gloves, a bouffant, and sterile surgical gowns.

Our clinic at 2025 Corydon Avenue is one of the largest dental clinics in Canada, caring for over 26,000 patients annually, so we’ve gone even further to ensure clean air in our clinic. In addition to our central HVAC system, all 23 treatment operatories have been equipped with Surgically Clean Air units, which are industrial HEPA air purifier units, that circulate the air up to 42 times per hour.

We also added another layer of protection. A medEVAC HEPA suction unit has been added to all rooms where aerosols are generated; which does happen in many dental procedures. Aerosols can carry viruses, so we use these suction units to ensure no aerosols can escape the procedure and cause infection.

One of the many tragedies of this pandemic is that Canadians aren’t always seeking out the care they need. They may be fearful of healthcare environments, and this is a big reason why Cholakis Dental Group has put these extensive safety protocols in place. We want our patients to know they are welcome, and that we have not spared any expense in providing the safest environment possible.